{"id":18111,"date":"2025-07-06T12:30:31","date_gmt":"2025-07-06T11:30:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/?post_type=encyclopedia&#038;p=18111"},"modified":"2025-07-06T12:31:31","modified_gmt":"2025-07-06T11:31:31","slug":"formulation-mistake-i-see-time-and-time-again-in-start-ups","status":"publish","type":"encyclopedia","link":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/glossary\/formulation-mistake-i-see-time-and-time-again-in-start-ups\/","title":{"rendered":"formulation mistake I see time and time again in start-ups"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Developing cosmetic products is an art \u2013 and a real challenge, especially for start-ups. Time and again, I see the same wording mistakes that jeopardise not only product quality but also brand image. In this article, I will show you three typical wording mistakes \u2013 and how you can avoid them from the outset.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>1. formulation mistake: too much at once: the \u201cwish list mistake\u201d<\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many start-ups begin with a huge vision: the product should do everything \u2013 moisturise, refine pores, combat pigmentation spots and still be a certified natural cosmetic. This almost inevitably leads to one of the most common formulation mistakes: too many active ingredients in an unstable, overloaded formulation.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Why this is problematic:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<li>Active ingredients can neutralise each other<\/li>\n<li>The skin becomes overwhelmed \u2013 irritation is possible<\/li>\n<li>The formula becomes unstable or too expensive for the market<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>How to avoid this formulation mistake:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Focus on a clear efficacy profile. It is better to have a product with\u00a0<em>one<\/em>\u00a0strong function that convinces than an all-rounder with no effect. Less is often more here \u2013 even in marketing.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In our view, there is no such thing as the one \u2018golden\u2019 product! A brand must offer its customers, who all have individual skin needs, several products.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em>Anything else is not credible.<\/em><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>2. formulation mistake: unsuitable preservation: the silent killer<\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another classic formulation error concerns preservation. Start-ups often resort to \u2018listed\u2019 cheap preservatives or do without them altogether because they are afraid of supposedly bad ingredients. This leads to unstable products \u2013 in the worst case with microbial contamination.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Why this is dangerous:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<li>The product goes off after just a few weeks<\/li>\n<li>Mould or bacteria endanger users<\/li>\n<li>The brand&#8217;s reputation is immediately damaged<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>How to avoid this formulation mistake:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let&#8217;s plan your preservation strategy professionally right from the start. Compatible, effective preservation systems can also be integrated into \u2018green\u2019 products. Together with our partner company <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cosactive.de\/en\/start-en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cosactive<\/a>, we have developed several multifunctional preservative aid systems that always work, so often only one challenge test is required. This saves costs (only 295 Euro \u00a0once) and time!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>3. formulation mistake: lack of scalability: When the formula stays in the lab<\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The third major formulation error: Many start-ups develop a formula on a laboratory scale that cannot be transferred to production later, or only with great effort. Raw materials, emulsifiers and mixing processes work differently on a large scale \u2013 and this is often underestimated.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>The consequences:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<li>Delays in launch<\/li>\n<li>High costs due to repeated adjustments<\/li>\n<li>Quality problems with the first batches<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>How to avoid this formulation mistake:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Work with a partner who thinks about scaling from the outset \u2013 someone who knows how to not only develop a beautiful product, but also bring it into series production. This way, your formulation mistake won&#8217;t slow down production.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We have a wealth of experience in this area and implement a well-established and proven process, all of which is included in our fixed-price offers.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Conclusion<\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Formulation errors can be expensive, time-consuming and frustrating \u2013 especially for young brands that rely on trust, quality and impact. Knowing and avoiding these three classic formulation errors gives you a decisive advantage in the development process.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether you are developing your first serum or sending your third product into the pipeline, contact Cosmacon now and don&#8217;t let formulation errors become a stumbling block for your brand launch.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/contact\/enquiry\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\ud83d\udc49\u00a0<strong>Arrange a no-obligation consultation<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0now \u2013 together we will examine how your personal skincare brand can become a reality.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Literature:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bav-institut.de\/en\/testings\/microbiology\">https:\/\/www.bav-institut.de\/en\/testings\/microbiology<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Developing cosmetic products is an art \u2013 and a real challenge, especially for start-ups. Time and again, I see the same wording mistakes that jeopardise not only product quality but also brand image. In this article, I will show you three typical wording mistakes \u2013 and how you can avoid them from the outset. &nbsp;&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":18108,"template":"","class_list":["post-18111","encyclopedia","type-encyclopedia","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>formulation mistake I see time and time again in start-ups - Cosmacon<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/glossary\/formulation-mistake-i-see-time-and-time-again-in-start-ups\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"formulation mistake I see time and time again in start-ups - Cosmacon\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Developing cosmetic products is an art \u2013 and a real challenge, especially for start-ups. Time and again, I see the same wording mistakes that jeopardise not only product quality but also brand image. In this article, I will show you three typical wording mistakes \u2013 and how you can avoid them from the outset. &nbsp;&hellip;\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/glossary\/formulation-mistake-i-see-time-and-time-again-in-start-ups\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Cosmacon\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-07-06T11:31:31+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Formulierungsfehler-1404x1003.jpeg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1404\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1003\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/glossary\/formulation-mistake-i-see-time-and-time-again-in-start-ups\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/glossary\/formulation-mistake-i-see-time-and-time-again-in-start-ups\/\",\"name\":\"formulation mistake I see time and time again in start-ups - Cosmacon\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/glossary\/formulation-mistake-i-see-time-and-time-again-in-start-ups\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/glossary\/formulation-mistake-i-see-time-and-time-again-in-start-ups\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Formulierungsfehler.jpeg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-07-06T11:30:31+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-07-06T11:31:31+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/glossary\/formulation-mistake-i-see-time-and-time-again-in-start-ups\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/glossary\/formulation-mistake-i-see-time-and-time-again-in-start-ups\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/glossary\/formulation-mistake-i-see-time-and-time-again-in-start-ups\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Formulierungsfehler.jpeg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Formulierungsfehler.jpeg\",\"width\":5242,\"height\":3744,\"caption\":\"formulation mistake; 3 mistakes I see time and time again in start-ups \u2013 and how to avoid them\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/glossary\/formulation-mistake-i-see-time-and-time-again-in-start-ups\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"glossary\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/glossary\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"formulation mistake I see time and time again in start-ups\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/\",\"name\":\"Cosmacon\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"formulation mistake I see time and time again in start-ups - Cosmacon","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/glossary\/formulation-mistake-i-see-time-and-time-again-in-start-ups\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"formulation mistake I see time and time again in start-ups - Cosmacon","og_description":"Developing cosmetic products is an art \u2013 and a real challenge, especially for start-ups. Time and again, I see the same wording mistakes that jeopardise not only product quality but also brand image. In this article, I will show you three typical wording mistakes \u2013 and how you can avoid them from the outset. &nbsp;&hellip;","og_url":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/glossary\/formulation-mistake-i-see-time-and-time-again-in-start-ups\/","og_site_name":"Cosmacon","article_modified_time":"2025-07-06T11:31:31+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1404,"height":1003,"url":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Formulierungsfehler-1404x1003.jpeg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/glossary\/formulation-mistake-i-see-time-and-time-again-in-start-ups\/","url":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/glossary\/formulation-mistake-i-see-time-and-time-again-in-start-ups\/","name":"formulation mistake I see time and time again in start-ups - Cosmacon","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/glossary\/formulation-mistake-i-see-time-and-time-again-in-start-ups\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/glossary\/formulation-mistake-i-see-time-and-time-again-in-start-ups\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Formulierungsfehler.jpeg","datePublished":"2025-07-06T11:30:31+00:00","dateModified":"2025-07-06T11:31:31+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/glossary\/formulation-mistake-i-see-time-and-time-again-in-start-ups\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/glossary\/formulation-mistake-i-see-time-and-time-again-in-start-ups\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/glossary\/formulation-mistake-i-see-time-and-time-again-in-start-ups\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Formulierungsfehler.jpeg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Formulierungsfehler.jpeg","width":5242,"height":3744,"caption":"formulation mistake; 3 mistakes I see time and time again in start-ups \u2013 and how to avoid them"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/glossary\/formulation-mistake-i-see-time-and-time-again-in-start-ups\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"glossary","item":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/glossary\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"formulation mistake I see time and time again in start-ups"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/","name":"Cosmacon","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/encyclopedia\/18111","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/encyclopedia"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/encyclopedia"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18108"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18111"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}